Amidst controversy surrounding suspected irregularities in competitive exam administration, the National Testing Agency (NTA) has announced revised schedules for several examinations. Following the cancellation and postponement of exams, the UGC-NET is now rescheduled to take place from August 21 to September 4.
The decision to cancel the University Grants Commission–National Eligibility Test (UGC-NET), which initially took place on June 18, came swiftly after concerns were raised about potential compromises in exam integrity. Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan disclosed that the question paper had been leaked on the darknet and circulated via Telegram. The matter is currently under investigation by the CBI.
The UGC-NET serves as a crucial evaluation for eligibility for Junior Research Fellowships, appointment as assistant professors, and admission to PhD programs. This year, the exam deviated from its usual format by being conducted offline on a single day. However, the upcoming rescheduled exam will revert to the traditional Computer Based Test (CBT) format spread over a two-week period.
Additionally, the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) UGC-NET, which was preemptively postponed due to similar concerns, will now take place from July 25 to July 27. This examination is pivotal for PhD admissions in various scientific disciplines.
Furthermore, the National Common Entrance Test (NCET), originally slated for June 12 but postponed, will now occur on July 10. This test facilitates admissions to the Integrated Teacher Education Programme across select central and state universities, including prestigious institutions like IITs and NITs.
In response to the uproar surrounding alleged irregularities in exams such as NEET-UG for medical entrances and NET for PhD admissions, the government recently formed a panel to oversee future exam conduct through the NTA. The NEET-UG has been particularly scrutinized amidst allegations of paper leaks, while preemptive measures led to the cancellation of two other exams, CSIR-UGC NET and NEET-PG.
Read also | NEET-PG postponed amid paper leaks row, new date to be announced 'at the earliest'
Read also | Supreme Court Defers Immediate Hearing on Request for CBI and ED Probe into Alleged NEET-UG Paper Leak
